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27 November 2013, Hiroshima, Japan - The UNITAR Hiroshima Office held its 77th Public Session on 13 November, examining Post-2014 Afghanistan and the Role of Japan.

2014 will see the withdrawal of a significant number of troops from Afghanistan as well as a presidential election. This Public Session provided an important opportunity to consider the direction of post-2014 Afghanistan as well as the role of Japan.

Since 2003, UNITAR, in collaboration with the Hiroshima Prefectural Government and the City of Hiroshima, has been bringing representatives of Afghanistan’s civil service to Hiroshima through its UNITAR Fellowship for Afghanistan. The Fellowship has provided hundreds of Afghans with training on leadership, project development and implementation, and human resources management, as well as insight into the post-conflict reconstruction of Hiroshima and Japan.

This Public Session was held in conjunction with the 2013 Cycle of the Fellowship, and the arrival of over 80 representatives of the Government of Afghanistan in Hiroshima for training.

In his speech, Dr. Fatimie expressed gratitude to UNITAR and the United Nations for the long-term partnership in building the capacity of Afghan officials, and to the Government of Japan for the multi-sector support it has provided. He also outlined the challenges that Afghanistan has faced, the great efforts that have been made since to bring development, peace and freedom, and the future path of the nation. Presentations by Ms. Kawabe and Mr. Shimada examined the long and cooperative relationship between Japan and Afghanistan, and the multi-faceted approach of Japan to post-conflict reconstruction in Afghanistan.

The event was attended by 147 people, bringing the number of attendees to UNITAR Public Sessions in Hiroshima to almost 4,000. UNITAR thanks the Prefectural Government of Hiroshima and the Municipal Government of Hiroshima for their collaboration in this event.